Real Estate Phrases, Slang and Acronyms

Real Estate agents are good notorious for a couple of things.
1) taking pictures from just the right angle so as to not show the Kool-Aid stain in the carpet, or the water stain in the ceiling.
And 2) using acronyms and catchy phrases like a (insert witty phrase here).

And as a Real Estate Agent, I get to poke a little fun, and educate a little. So here goes.

Acronyms that will help any home buyer read quickly through all of the listing cards and descriptions:

AC: Air Conditioning
HVAC: Heating, Ventilation, A/C
Ba/Bt: Bathroom
Bd/Bdr: Bedroom
FR: Family Room
Dr: Dining Room
LR: Living Room
Kit: Kitchen
Ldry: Laundry
Mst: Master (bedroom/bathroom)
Clst: Closet
FSBO: For Sale By Owner
HUD: Federal Dept of Housing & Urban Development
FNMA: Fannie Mae
FHLMC: Freddie Mac
Sf/SqFt: Square Feet
TFLA: Total Finished Living Area
WD: Washer and Dryer
Fin w/o: Finished Walk Out
Hdwd: Hardwood
OH: Open House
DOM: Days on Market
DAC: Days After Closing (possession)
WIC: Walk in Closet
BSMT: Basement
FP: Fireplace
HOA: Home Owners Association
UTILS: Utilities
UG: Underground Sprinkling

Euphemisms commonly used to ‘pretty up’ any listing!

Cozy Kitchen: Room for you, and maybe one appliance
Well Cared For: The wallpaper from the 1970’s is in great condition
Needs Cosmetics: All surfaces need to be replaced
Needs TLC: Bring your sledge hammer
Handy Man Special: Multiple professionals will be required, most of whom will be over budget
Original: Old
Close to Everything: The highway is in your front yard
Private: Nearest neighbor is a family of raccoons 1,000 yards away
Neutral Colors: Beige, Beige and More Beige
Pride of Ownership: Homeowners did all the remodeling themselves.
As-Is: Something is wrong with the home, and the seller doesn’t want to fix it
Bedroom/Office: Small room that has a small closet.
Galley Kitchen: Opposing appliances cannot be opened at the same time. Kitchen doubles as a hallway.
Lots of Possibilities: Simply put, Stay Clear!